Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan kicks off the press conference to announce the line up for the 25th season of the city’s Alive at Five summer concert series at Jennings Landing, located along the Hudson River waterfront, in Albany, N.Y., on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Behind her, from left, are: Carm Basile, CEO of CDTA; Melli Rose, director, city of Albany Office of Special Events; Kate Otis, director of community relations at KeyBank; and Dave Merriman, director of Anheuser-Busch sales, Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service.
Lauren Halligan - The Record

ALBANY >> Capital Region music lovers are marking their calendars with eight new free summer shows, after the announcement of the Alive at Five series Wednesday.

The annual summertime concert series revealed its 2014 lineup Wednesday morning. This is Alive at Five’s 25th year of bringing riverside entertainment to the Capital city. The weekly concerts run from mid June to early August, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings at Jennings Landing on the Hudson River.

Notable acts this year include Grand Funk Railroad, Fitz and The Tantrums, Dustin Lynch and Sheila E.; Each show typically brings between 3,000 and 10,000 attendees.

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This year’s planning was under the direction of Melli Rose, Albany’s director of special events. Rose has worked with Alive at Five in different capacities for 13 years, and this was her first year in charge. “I’m thrilled about the whole season. I’m very proud of it,” she said.

The year-round planning process involves collecting local artist submissions and matching them with fitting national acts to share the stage with. The headliners are booked first, based on availability, routing, and budget.

The series was downsized to eight concerts this year from nine last summer, and 10 the year before.

Rock, pop, country, R&B, reggae and folk artists will all grace the riverfront park with their musical talents this summer.

“Once the spring weather hits - Tulip Fest, Alive at Five - I think it’s is just a good thing for the city. It’s one of those great events that attracts all people,” said Jason Keller of alternative radio station EQX, which is presenting the first two concerts in the series.

The first show kicks off the series on June 12 with two national pop rock acts. Fitz and the Tantrums and The Features are two bands that EQX has been championing for some time, Keller said. “To see them be able to perform in front of so many people who may or may not know them, that’s kind of a big mission of EQX, pushing a lot of music that we truly believe people will love.” The bill includes many other local bands that EQX has helped grow regionally including Mirk, Stellar Young, Eastbound Jesus, Wild Adriatic, and Conehead Buddha.

The station will also be hosting Reggae Night on June 19, featuring Easy Star All-Stars and John Brown’s Body. “I don’t know many people who can deny the sound of reggae,” Keller said.

An “Albany Invasion” night will also be held on July 17 to showcase local bands and artists.

Albany’s own Mirk will be returning to the stage on R&B Night June 26. Joshua Mirsky said the band is humbled to be selected to play Alive at Five two years in a row. “We’re also very excited to be opening for Dwele who has worked with so many people we’re inspired by musically, like J Dilla, Common, and Kanye West,” he added.

Locals Hard Soul, a band with a vintage rock and roll feel, will be playing the series for the first time this year, since the band’s inception in 2011. The band is proud to be part of the concert series its members view as a benchmark for the Albany area and its music scene. “It’s great to be seen by our hometown,” said lead singer Johnny Salka.

Salka has been attending the series for nearly a decade as an Albany resident. “I think it’s really cool that they’re doing an exclusive all local music bill,” he said. “It’s great that Albany’s supporting the local music scene.”

“This is an event that the city of Albany hosts for the benefit of the entire region,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said Wednesday. “It’s provides an opportunity for downtown workers who commute here from near and far to stay downtown, enjoy this beautiful waterfront and hear fantastic acts.”